Gstaad 250

[Johnsteinbeck]

and again, reaches deuce on brand's serve, but can't go further. put a fork in mister Federer, he's done. i'd love to be fly on the wall when he's talking to his team - what are the expectations at the moment? is there panic? is there a plan? is this part of the plan?

---

dear lord... Fed's 0 for 5 on break points, 0for3 in the second.

 

[Front242]

Man, I can't stand Carlos Bernardes. He sounds so disinterested all the time! What a boring voice.

Oops, typed Carlos Ramos first!

 

[kskate2]

5-3 in a set again for Brands to end the match this time

 

[Front242]

and again, reaches deuce on brand's serve, but can't go further. put a fork in mister Federer, he's done. i'd love to be fly on the wall when he's talking to his team - what are the expectations at the moment? is there panic? is there a plan? is this part of the plan?

---

dear lord... Fed's 0 for 5 on break points, 0for3 in the second.

---

The fact that Mirka can no longer look says it all. Poor fella's probably in tears after every unexpectedly poor loss and she's likely sick of consoling him as much as he is of losing like this.

 

[El Dude]

What's head-scratching is how quickly Federer's deteriorated (aka "in a bad patch"). He was #1 at this time last year and even though he took a step down after Cincinnati, remained an elite player and one of the Big Four through the Australian Open, when he made it to the SF.

Then he started seriously slipping. From after the AO through the French Open he wasn't playing like one of the best, but he was still in the next tier down - making the QF at Roland Garros. But then after that loss to Tsonga, things really fell apart. He managed one ATP 250 title but has been swirling the drain since and doesn't even look like a top 40 player anymore.

Now obviously he can't really have declined this much, but what gives? This is more than a bad patch - its the worst spell of his career, at least in 10+ years. And he isn't just a little "off his game" - he's a complete train-wreck.

Just baffled.

 

[Front242]

What's head-scratching is how quickly Federer's deteriorated (aka "in a bad patch"). He was #1 at this time last year and even though he took a step down after Cincinnati, remained an elite player and one of the Big Four through the Australian Open, when he made it to the SF.

Then he started seriously slipping. From after the AO through the French Open he wasn't playing like one of the best, but he was still in the next tier down - making the QF at Roland Garros. But then after that loss to Tsonga, things really fell apart. He managed one ATP 250 title but has been swirling the drain since and doesn't even look like a top 40 player anymore.

Now obviously he can't really have declined this much, but what gives? This is more than a bad patch - its the worst spell of his career, at least in 10+ years. And he isn't just a little "off his game" - he's a complete train-wreck.

Just baffled.

It's beyond a joke and utterly disappointing to watch as a fan. I don't mind losses if the other guy deservedly took the match (like Stakhovsky) but this match is mostly about Fed's crap play and Brands just having to hold serve.

 

[kskate2]

2 Mp's

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

history buffs are looking up the last time Fed lost his opening match at a tourney (although they probably still have that lying around somewhere from when he went down a set v Brands last week, so no need to dig deep).

 

[kskate2]

saves one a FH

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

barely past the hour mark. ouch. will he give back the cow now?

 

[kskate2]

Big service winner from Brands and Fed can take his horrid form and his cow home.

 

[Front242]

Even the challenger circuit players are better than this. Go home Roger.

 

[DarthFed]

Can't blame it all on a new racquet. The top 3 could beat the likes of Brands, Delbonis and Stakhovsky with a $20 racquet from WalMart. When it rains, it pours. Roger is done this year, but he will be back in 2014 and at least better than this joke of a year.

 

[Front242]

barely past the hour mark. ouch. will he give back the cow now?

He probably should. They were hinting at the lack of beef in his game these days. Not just a little beef is needed but a whole bloody cow they said!

 

[El Dude]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. I wonder how Roger must feel, being on the other side of that net hand-shake, match after match.

johnsteinbeck, I don't know the answer to that in terms of all tournaments, but he did go out in his first match (2R) at the 2010 Rome, losing to Ernests Gulbis.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

thanks, i remember now hearing that one recalled recently.
the sad thing is that this was to a totally different quality of player.

 

[Riotbeard]

Plane weird. Didn't watch the match, but I mean Fed made the semi at AO. How has he fallen this far this quick? Psychological slump, not a true drop of form IMO.

 

[Front242]

Plane weird. Didn't watch the match, but I mean Fed made the semi at AO. How has he fallen this far this quick? Psychological slump, not a true drop of form IMO.

Hard to tell really. Timing is completely off in every aspect of his game. Of course he'll never blame his back (hasn't since the Berdych loss at Wimbledon 2010) but surely it has to be contributing to it. He doesn't even attempt to run down some balls, looks stiff and rigid often and is slow getting to balls on both wings. He took 2 months off to help heal it and his lower back is still taped.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Confidence is huge in sports. When doubt creeps in, anything can happen. I think Roger has the game, he just does not trust it at this moment, for god knows what reasons.

 

[Mog]

Can't blame it all on a new racquet.

Roger is done this year.

Agreed.
This is the worst I have seen in him, new racquet or not.
Could be the crisis of confidence.
Very disappointed in his performance this year. Painful.

PS: Back issue is not a good sign. Hope it is not too serious.